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Penguin Expedition is the world first-of-its kind penguin exhibit where guests can get up close and personal to a spectacular colony of King and Gentoo Penguins at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.

Penguin Expedition is inspired by Macquarie Island - an Australian owned island that lies in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It will create an explorer out of each and every guest as they travel in a raft through a rugged, sub-Antarctic environment at a cool but comfortable six degrees Celsius.

Explorers will be surrounded by penguins and experience a flurry of snow, whistling winds and the stunning southern lights, before arriving at the Macquarie Island Explorer Hut. Here they can observe these inspiring creatures on land and under water and learn more about life on the remote island.

Penguin Expedition will be the first time colonies of sub-Antarctic penguins call Sydney home and will be underpinned by a dedicated breeding and conservation-focused education program.

We love visiting Sea Life Aquarium. The experiences we have had there are always memorable. But this one takes the prize. Getting up close and seeing the world of the Gentoo and King Emperor Penguins at the new exhibit was simply amazing.

We got a bit of a 'behind the scenes' look at the new exhibit and learnt some fascinating facts about this cool, loveable animals.

When we were visiting it was feeding time. It was the perfect opportunity to see the differences in the characters of these two species of penguin. The Gentoo, to be blunt, were absolutely mental. We got to see their underwater antics as they chased their fishy food. They were fast, really, really fast. Like crazy hungry toddlers.

The Kings, on the other hand, were, as the name suggests, quite regal, calm and ate with, might I say, a certain eve of sophistication - though they were swallowing rather large fish whole. Bit more like the adults.

Afterwards, the Kings just milled about taking in the atmosphere, whilst the Gentoo ran up and down the icy slopes of their enclosure. Again, like wild toddlers.

We missed the opportunity to try the ride out, that floats through the exhibit and even treats you to some snow action. We will be returning to have a ride, as it seems to be a "must do".

This is just the start of a new penguin colony who are set to serve as conservation ambassadors. This coupled with SEA LIFE's research project with renowned Marine Biologist Dr Jennifer Lavers to assess the plastic contamination rates in penguins living on Macquarie Island, is sure to bring much-needed attention to the conservation efforts behind helping to protect these wonderful creatures.

Facilities

There is a family room located at the exit in the retail shop.
There is plenty of room to bring your stroller in.
There is a small shop where you can buy refreshments a few bench seats (no tables).

Age Group

All Ages

Cost

Entrance to Penguin Island Expedition - including daily feeds and talks from dedicated keepers and trainers - is included in the cost of general admission, starting from $28 online per person.

Visitors are urged to book tickets well in advance to avoid missing out on this very cool experience.